YHA Hawkshead

Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QD

90%

Excellent rating

(238 reviews)

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Overview

This family friendly, grade II listed building is an ideal base for cheap breaks, school trips and activity holidays in Beatrix Potter country. YHA Hawkshead is great for walking and cycling and nearby Grizedale Forest offers some of the country’s best routes if you're looking for a mountain biking holiday.

YHA Hawkshead offers our biggest choice of Camping & Cabins – with an atmospheric glamping village of camping pods, cabins and tipis in our grounds. Free Wi-Fi is available in our spacious social areas and you can expect tranquil views over Esthwaite Water, fabulous drinks in our licensed bar and plenty of Regency charm.

Accommodation at this hostel

Bed in a shared room is offered here
Private room is offered here
Camping & Cabins is offered here
Entire place is offered here

Why guests love this hostel

Close to Grizedale Forest and Coniston Lake
Lakeside location overlooking Esthwaite Water
Atmospheric glamping village of camping pods, cabins and tipis

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Accommodation at YHA Hawkshead

Bed in a shared room

If you're happy to share, dorm rooms have multiple beds - ideal for budget breaks.

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Private rooms

Like your own space? Private rooms offer the hostelling experience with more privacy.

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Private en-suite rooms

Enjoy your own space with a private en-suite room, including bathroom facilities.

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Cabins

Go glamping in style and feel as cosy as can be inside a rustic wooden cabin.

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Camping pods

Our wooden pods offer the camping experience with protection from the elements.

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Premium bell tents

Get all the fun of the great outdoors without the set-up in our beautiful bell tents.

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Tipis

Try something different and go camping in style with our spacious tipi tents.

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Hire the Courtyard building

Take the Courtyard building for you and your group with YHA Exclusive Hire.

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Hire the whole place

With YHA Exclusive Hire, you can take the main building for you and your group.

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Group bookings for 16+ guests

Let YHA take care of your stay with our group booking service.

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Hostel facilities

Baby changing
Contactless payments
Cycle store
Dining room
Evening meals
Free parking on premises
Games
Garden/grounds
Group meals
Highchair
Intermittent mobile coverage
Lake view
Large garden/grounds
Licensed bar
Minibus parking on premises
Mountain view
Outdoor games kit
Outdoor seating
Pool table
Self-catering kitchen
Shared drying room
Shared lounge
Unlimited breakfast
Vending machines
Water refill station
WiFi

Hostel need to know

Reception hours: From 07:30 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 22:00.

Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00. Meals are also available from 17:00 – 20:00.

Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.

Parking: There is free parking on site and an overflow car park for use during busy times.

WiFi: Free WiFi is available in shared social spaces.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Hawkshead, except in our Camping & Cabins accommodation or when hiring the whole hostel or courtyard through YHA Exclusive Hire. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.

Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol, except when hiring the whole hostel or courtyard through YHA Exclusive Hire.

YHA Hawkshead - Access Statement

(PDF download - 140.32 KB)

Food and drink at YHA Hawkshead

Unlimited breakfast at YHA Hawkshead

Enjoy all you can eat for breakfast including sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and beans. Continental options include fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt and pastries. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to get stuck into. Drinks are included too! Under 10s eat for £1 with our special offer (see menu for details).

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Main menu at YHA Hawkshead

Take your pick from our range of delicious light bites, hearty classics, and delicious desserts – everything you need after a long day of exploring. Under 10s eat for £1 with our special offer (see menu for details). Vegan and vegetarian options available.

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Chicken burger with side salad and chips

Group meals at YHA Hawkshead

With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something tasty to eat at YHA Hawkshead (see sample menu).

Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.

Self-catering at YHA Hawkshead

Our self-catering kitchen includes everything you need to cook up a storm.

Bring your own food and make use of our ovens microwave, refrigerator plus a kettle and toaster, Dishes and cutlery are provided as well as cleaning essentials.

YHA Hawkshead

Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QD

Map references

OS Map:: 96
OS Grid Ref:: SD354966
Lat/Lng:: 54.361697, -2.994753
what3words: frantic.handrail.indulgent

Contact information

Phone:: +44 345 371 9321
Email:: [email protected]

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Things to do around YHA Hawkshead

Windermere Lake Cruises

Windermere is England’s largest lake situated in the heart of the Lake District. Experience the spectacular views of mountain scenery, secluded bays and the delightful wooded islands by boat with...

Go Ape Grizedale Forest

Go Ape Adventures at Grizedale Forest is the ultimate outdoor activity for adventurous families and adults. Take part in the Treetop Challenge, Zip Trekking Adventure or Treetop Adventure Plus. There...

The World of Beatrix Potter

Take a walk through Miss Potter's famous tales, complete with animatronics and walk-through scenes from her stories. The exhibition features favourite characters from the famous books, an award...

Brantwood

Discover the home of John Ruskin. A historic house, museum and vibrant centre for the arts, Brantwood is the former home of artist and social reformer John Ruskin. You’ll find a wealth of fascinating...

Windermere Jetty Museum

Come rain or shine the museum offers a welcoming space to spend time with friends and family. Housed inside striking architecture you’ll find a fascinating collection of boats, interactive displays...

Walking and Rambling in Hawkshead

If you're planning on staying at YHA Hawkshead, why not download a free map and get out exploring? All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel and are graded so that you can explore the...

Dove Cottage

Visit the barely-changed home of famous Romantic poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy. You'll find plenty to inspire you in the museum too.

Hawkshead Grammar School Museum

Situated in the pretty Lake District village of Hawkshead, the Grammar School Museum tells the story of school life since its founding in 1585. Our most famous pupil was William Wordsworth and in its...

Adventure Okehampton, kids gorge walking

Watersports in Hawkshead

Only five miles from Windermere, you can try your hand at anything from a lake cruise through to wind surfing, kayaking and canoeing. If you feel the need for speed you can even hire a power boat.

Mountain biking in Hawkshead

Set off down the bridleway from the back of the hostel to join Grizedale forest which offers hundreds of different routes for mountain bikers of all abilities. The highest point in the forest is Karen...

Mountain guide instructs a group of young people

Highpoint Mountain Guides

Navigation, rock climbing and mountaineering courses for skills training, guided activities or just having some group fun. Instructors and mountain guides used by Highpoint Mountain Guide are...

The Ruskin Museum

Exhibition including the Ruskin collection, the copper mines, slate, geology, farming and Donald Campbell's Bluebird. Visit the website

Steam Yacht Gondola

The gondola is the perfect way to view Coniston's spectacular scenery. Sail to Monk Coniston jetty and then walk to Tarn Hows. View the Yacht's National Trust website

Coniston Cruises

Enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on Coniston Water, staying on the boat for the full cruise or getting off at a jetty to explore. Or just use the service as a ferry to get between where the different...

Hill Top (Beatrix Potter)

Full of her favourite things, the house looks like Beatrix has just stepped out for a walk. Don't miss the lovely cottage garden.

Coniston Boating Centre

To see Coniston Water and the stunning fells hire a motor boat, canoe, rowing boat or sailing boat and explore. Take a break at the Bluebird Café right on the edge of Coniston Water. Visit the website

Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House

From the leaf-shaped door handles to the carved wooden panelling, Blackwell is an important icon of Arts & Crafts architecture. Visit Blackwell's website

Lakes Aquarium

Watch otters swim from the underwater tunnel, stroll through the tropical rainforest and explore the seashore discovery zone.

Person cycling along a countryside road with daisies

Cycling around Hawkshead

YHA Hawkshead is a fantastic location for road and mountain bikers, be they novice, families or experienced. Here are some of our recommendations: Grizedale Forest The forest is a mecca for mountain...

Tom Ghyll (or Gill) waterfalls on way to Tarn Hows

Tom Ghyll Waterfalls

Tom Ghyll (or Gill) is a lovely stream with two waterfalls. A trail runs alongside the stream and the path then leads up to Tarn Hows. Start at the Car Park on the A593 by Glen Mary Bridge. Head east...

More about this hostel

Volunteering

We are very grateful for all of the help and support that our generous volunteers give to YHA. We are proud of our “Investors in Volunteering” accreditation and have a wide range of opportunities available across the country, all of which will provide great learning or social experiences and help us to create even more opportunities for young people.

Why not come and spend some time at YHA Hawkshead to find out more about our fabulous hostels and spend some time helping us maintain our high standards of hospitality. The tasks are energetic and varied and in return you will get to meet some great people who both work and stay in our hostels as well as enjoying your time off to get out and discover the beautiful Lake District landscape.

Find out more and apply to volunteer.

Meet the team

Manager recommends: Great for family activity breaks and some of the best cycling and mountain biking holidays that England has to offer. After an active day in the south Lakes, relax on the veranda, overlooking the expansive gardens and tranquil Esthwaite Water.